Biblical Answer

Understanding Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a choice that we make, not a feeling that we have. It is a process, not an event. While it may seem hard at first, praying for the person we need to forgive can help us become more forgiving. Forgiveness is not about erasing memories or justifying the other person's actions, but about trusting that God is the God of justice and saying, "Father, I forgive them because You have asked me to."

The Cycle of Forgiveness

The cycle of forgiveness involves several steps. First, we must identify who we are angry with. This may seem simple, but it is an important step in the process of forgiveness. Once we have identified the person, we must pray for them and ask God to help us forgive them. Forgiveness is not a one-time event, but a process that we must continually work on. We may need to forgive the same person multiple times, and it is at this point that we must remember Jesus' words, "Not seven times, but seventy-seven times" (Matthew 18:22).

Forgiveness and Justice

Forgiveness does not mean that we are saying what the other person did is okay. Rather, it means that we are trusting that God is the God of justice and that He will bring justice to the situation. Forgiveness is not about justifying the other person's actions, but about making them free. When we forgive, we are not saying that the other person's actions were right, but rather that we are choosing to forgive them because God has asked us to. This is an important distinction, and one that can help us to understand the true nature of forgiveness. In the end, forgiveness is a choice that we make, not a feeling that we have. It is a process that we must continually work on, and one that requires us to trust in God's justice and sovereignty.